Need Help Identifying Disease

curiouscullum

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We ended the life of one of our 2 year old hens today after feeling she was too sick and wasn't going to bounce back. We need some help identifying what we assume is disease.

She was a Buff Orpington. We noticed a week ago that she was lethargic and had lower rear feathers soiled with poop. She was also extremely light, was very thin around her breast plate, was the last one off the roost in morning and isolating herself at times during the day in dark areas. She was still eating and drinking at times and her crop was partially full each day. We attempted to feed her yogurt a few times but her interest and consumption lessened each day. Her comb remained fairly red till about 2 days ago, but it did fall over on her head. Her wattle remained red, but shrunk.

Upon cleaning her rear end last week, we noticed a large bump below the vent. She had been walking more like a penguin too, with her butt lowered. We found some resources on this site with possible identification of water belly or internal egg laying. We inserted a syringe and drained fluid on 2 separate days that started clear but changed to yellow. After each drain the sac filled again.

Today after ending her life, we opened her up and found lots of yellow throughout her body. See pics attached.

We assume this is disease, correct? Any ideas of the disease? We have 5 other chickens still in the flock and want to identify the problem before it could repeat itself.

Thank you for your help in advance.
 

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Upon cleaning her rear end last week, we noticed a large bump below the vent. She had been walking more like a penguin too, with her butt lowered. We found some resources on this site with possible identification of water belly or internal egg laying. We inserted a syringe and drained fluid on 2 separate days that started clear but changed to yellow. After each drain the sac filled again.
Today after ending her life, we opened her up and found lots of yellow throughout her body.
I'm sorry for your loss.

The yellow is fat. Did you happen to look at the organs and reproductive system and take photos?

From your description of standing like a penguin and the symptom of Ascites (fluid in the abdomen) I would lean toward a reproductive disorder which are sadly common in laying hens.
 

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